Trailer alignment bogey



July 21, 1964 E. F. SHIELS 3,141,632

v TRAILER ALIGNMENT BOGEY Filed Feb. 5, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 n3 m g Burl 2 Swim/Pa Awf {4M ATTO/P/VE VJ July 21, 1964 E. F. SHIELS TRAILER ALIGNMENT BOGEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 5. 1962 3 J M 2. Mm t 3 .2 E m 0 0o fiV 01 v2 a A a g s w. N F M; v. v 6 r n 6 Q? United States Patent 3,141,682 TRAILER ALIGNMENT BOGEY Eugene F. Shiels, Dallas, Tex., assignor t0 Dresser Industries, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 170,876 4 Claims. (Cl. 28081) This invention is a mobile rig for transporting heavy equipment to a location where the equipment is tobe used and for laterally aligning the apparatus with an object to be engaged by or operated on by the heavy equipment. It is particularly desirable as a mobile rig for remedial well equipment, such as is used in workover of oil and gas wells or similar operations; but it is not limited to such use.

Heavy equipment, such as remedial equipment for oil and gas well use, is often permanently mounted on a suitable vehicle for transportation to a well or other location Where the equipment must be accurately positioned for succeeding operations. For example, it is often necessary to place a portable rig on an existing well in order to rework the same. To effect such placement, the center of a rotary table and of a mast mounted on the vehicle must exactly coincide with the axis of the well. Equipment of this type is ordinarily permanently installed on a heavy trailer having gooseneck equipment for attaching to a heavy truck or tractor for highway travel.

On arrival at the Well, the driver of the vehicle ordinarily does not have a great deal of trouble in centering the rotary table and mast on a line passing through the axis of the well and substantially normal to the length of the trailer, out centering the trailer laterally on the axis of the well is another matter entirely. Quite often the crew must Wait while the driver jockeys the equipment back and forth for 30 minutes to one hour in order to get an exact alignment with the axis of the well.

Although mobile rigs have been in use for a great number of years for a great variety of oil field operations, such as workover of wells, acidizing, fracturing and other operations, it is still necessary for the driver to spend a great deal of time and effort in getting a rig in proper place over a well.

It is an object of this invention to provide a mobile rig for heavy equipment which is easily aligned laterally with an object to be engaged or operated on by the heavy equipment.

Another object is to provide a rig of this type in which easy alignment is combined with stability in highway travel so that there is no tendency for the rig to Weave or run in misalignment during transportation to and from the position of use.

Another object is to provide an improved mobile rig for remedial well equipment in which a mast or rotary table may be easily and quickly centered over the axis of the well.

Another object is to provide an improved mobile rig of this type which may easily be held in centered position by setting brakes on the vehicle, and means are provided for blocking release of the brakes while the rig is in the centered position over the well axis.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mobile rig for remedial well equipment having means for centering the equipment upon a well head which is cheap and economical to manufacture, simple and dependable in use, and substantially foolproof.

In the attached drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used throughout to designate like parts:

FIG. 1 illustrates a part of a mobile rig of the present invention in side elevation, partly broken away to show the relationship between the vehicle frame and support- I ing member;

"ice

FIG. 2 is a rear end elveation of the device of FIG. 1 with the mast removed;

FIG. 3 is a plan of the rig of FIG. 1, partly broken away to show the relationship between the vehicle frame and supporting member when the frame has been moved laterally;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the device of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a detail of a preferred locking means showing its relationship to the vehicle frame, supporting member and a valve permitting release of brakes only when the pin is in place.

The present invention contemplates mounting heavy equipment, such as remedial equipment for oil or gas Wells, on a suitable wheeled vehicle, as, for example, a heavy trailer. The vehicle frame is carried on suitable supporting means in turn carried by the axle of the trailer or by multiple axles when more than one pair of dual wheels are used at the rear of the trailer, as usually will be the case.

Means are provided for locking the frame of the vehicle in centered position upon the supporting means so that in highway transportation the trailer follows a tractor to which it is attached without Weaving from side to side or being hard to steer. When the locking means is released, the frame of the vehicle is movable pivotally upon the supporting member. This supporting member preferably is a flat plate having a transverse section located between the rear wheels of the trailer and has an elongate forward projecting section pivoted adjacent to its forward end to the frame of the vehicle. The locking means preferably is a pair of removable pins insertable through openings in the vehicle frame and supporting member arranged to prevent any lateral movement of the frame when the pins are in place. The pins are preferred because of simplicity and convenience of operation, although it is obvious that a great many other equivalents may be used if desired, such as removable lugs attached to the supporting means, transverse screws attached to shoulders on the supporting means and arranged to apply pressure to the vehicle frame moving it to one side or the other, and a great number of clamping devices also are usable.

Means are provided for preventing longitudinal movement of the trailer when the locking means is released. This means preferably includes the brakes normally present on the trailer wheels and means for blocking release of fluid under pressure in the brakes at any time the releasable locking device is released. Preferably, this means is responsive to withdrawal of the removable pins from the openings in the supporting member and frame, such as a valve disposed to prevent release of brake fluid from cylinders of the brakes when the pins are withdrawn. A means for moving the frame pivotally on the supporting unit also is provided. This means may take a large number of forms, such as a ratchet and pawl operated by a lever, an arrangement of gearing, or a screw disposed to apply pressure in the proper direction upon the frame; but it preferably is a cylinder containing a fluidactuated piston. The latter arrangement is preferred because practically all trailers have fluid-actuated brakes, and brake fluid under pressure is easily available. When this arrangement is used, the cylinder should be attached to one or the other of the frame and supporting member while a piston rod connected to the piston is attached to the complementary member of the pair so that the frame of the vehicle may be easily moved over upon the supporting member for a distance sufiicient to allow easy centering over a well bore.

It is preferred that a stop, limiting lateral movement of the frame, also be included in the device. This stop is preferably a pin carried by the frame and movable within an opening in the forward extending section of the flat plate supporting the vehicle frame arranged so that the pin will make contact with the plate and prevent further movement of the frame to one side when the desired? limit of travel is reached, although the stop may be fixed. to the plate and be arranged to be movable laterally in an opening in the frame if desired.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 6 indicates generally a wheeled vehicle which has a frame 7 carried by suitable supporting means 8 including a flat plate 9 on which frame 7 rests. Plate 9 has a forward extending. elongate section iii pivoted to the frame adjacent its for ward end by pivot 11 and also has a transverse fiat section 13 disposed between pairs of wheels 14 and 14a.

Each pair of wheels, illustrated as dual wheels, is connected by axles 15 and 15a which carry the supporting member. The flat plate 13 has openings 13a therethrough disposed to coincide with openings 12a in frame 7 when the frame is centered on the transverse section of plate 13 between the wheels. These openings serve to cooperate with removable pins 16, shown only in FIG. 5, to form a means for locking the frame in centered position between the wheels for highway transportation. The pins 16 also cooperate with a means for blocking release of brake fluid from the brakes of the vehicle, illustrated as spring-returned valve 17 in a line 18 connected to the vehicle brakes (not shown). When pins 16 are in the openings 12a and 13a, the pins move valve 17 to open position so that the brakes may be set or released in the usual manner and the valve does not affect their operation.

However, when the vehicle is parked, the brakes are applied and pins 16 are removed. Valve 17 then assumes a position preventing release of brake fluid from the vehicles brakes.

Removal of pins 16 from openings 12:: and 13a permits the vehicle frame to slide upon the transverse plate 13 of the supporting means and to be moved laterally thereon into the position shown in FIG. 3.

Means for moving the frame is also provided and is best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4. This means is illustrated as a cylinder 19 having a piston therein arranged to be moved by application of fluid pressure. Cylinder 19 has an extension 20 pinned to a lug 21 on the supporting means. The piston rod 22 connected to the piston is pinned to an extension 23 of frame 7. Application of fluid under pressure to one side or the other of the piston in cylinder 19 thus will move frame 7 to and from a centered position on the transverse section of the flat plate 13.

A stop means is provided to prevent moving frame 7 too far to either side of the plate. This means is illustrated as a stop 24 fixed to a crossbar 25 of frame 7 and disposed within an opening 25 in the forward extension 1% of fiat plate 9. Contact of stop 24 with a side member of the extension 10 thus prevents further movement of the frame in response to pressure of piston rod 22.

The particular device illustrated in the drawings comprises heavy equipment illustrated in FIG. 1 as a draw works 27 for remedial well equipment and a mast 28 mounted at the rear end of the trailer. Mast 28 will have an upper extension, indicated by the broken-away part 29, which in highway travel will normally be folded forward to extend over the top of the draw works. On arrival of a mobile rig equipped in this manner at a well where the equipment is to be used, the trailer carrying the heavy equipment is backed until the mast is. in proper position longitudinally over the well. Positioning the mast in this manner is quickly and easily accomplished by an ordinary driver since the mobile rig may be moved an inch at a time until the mast is centered on a transverse line passing through the axis of the well. Close lateral alignment is not necessary. The axis of the well may lie at any point between the lines A and B, which are extensions of the center line of the vehicle frame when the frame is moved its maximum distance pivotally in opposite directions.

It will be seen that with a vehicle having the equipment described above the desired coincidence of centers is easily attained. At his first attempt the driver usually can place the vehicle longitudinally so that the mast is correctly positioned over a line passing through the well center and normal to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; and although the well center probably will not be on the line C of FIG. 3, the vehicle is easily placed so that the well center is between the lines A and B. No jockeying of the rig back and forth in order to get better centering over the well is necessary. Pins 16 are merely removed and the vehicle frame is moved laterally upon plate 13 until the desired equipment center coincides with the axis of well 3t The rig cannot move longitudinally away from the well during lateral movement of the frame because removal of the locking pins in actuates valve 17 to prevent release of brake fluid from cylinders of the brakes. When the equipment is centered upon the axis of the well, jacks 31 and 31a are set to carry most of the weight and to hold the rig firmly in place while the well operations are conducted.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects 'hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the appa- Iatus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having been described, what is claimed 1. In a wheeled vehicle for transporting heavy equipment having at least one pair of wheels located adjacent to the rear of the vehicle, an axle carried by the pair of wheels, a supporting unit carried by the axle, and a vehicle frame supported by the supporting unit, that improvement which comprises an upper flat plate on said supporting unit having a transverse section carrying the vehicle frame and a forward projecting extension thereof pivoted to the vehicle frame adjacent the forward end of said extension; means for releasably locking the frame in laterally centered position on the transverse section; means, attached to the frame and supporting unit, for moving the frame pivotally on the transverse section of the flat plate; and means for limiting pivotal movement of the frame, including a stop carried by one of said frame and flat plate disposed in an opening in the other of said vehicle frame and flat plate.

2. In a wheeled vehicle for transporting heavy equipment having at least one pair of wheels located adjacent to the rear of the vehicle, an axle carried by the pair of wheels, a supporting unit carried by the axle, and a vehicle frame supported by a supporting unit, that improvement which comprises an upper flat plate in the supporting unit having a transverse portion supporting said vehicle frame and an elongate forward projecting extension pivoted to the vehicle frame adjacent the forward end of said extension; means for releasably locking the frame in laterally centered position on the fiat plate; means, attached to the frame and supporting mem bet for moving the frame pivotally on the flat plate; means for limiting lateral movement of the frame, including a stop carried by the vehicle frame disposed in an opening through the forward projecting extension of the flat plate; and a mast carried by the vehicle frame adjacent to the rear of the vehicle.

3. In a wheeled vehicle for transporting heavy equipment having at least one pair of wheels located adjacent to the rear of the vehicle, an axle carried by the pair of wheels, a supporting unit carried by the axle, a vehicle frame supported by the supporting unit, a line containing brake fluid, and a valve in the line operable between a pressure releasing position and a position preventing release of pressure in said line, that improvement which comprises an upper fiat plate in the supporting unit having a transverse portion supporting said vehicle frame and an elongate forward projecting extension pivoted to the vehicle frame adjacent to the forward end of said extension; means for releasably locking the frame in laterally centered position upon the transverse portion; means attached to the frame and supporting member, for moving the frame pivotally on the flat plate; and means for limiting lateral movement of the frame including a stop member carried by one of said vehicle frame and forward projecting extension disposed in an opening through the other of said vehicle frame project- 6 ing extension of the flat plate, said valve being movable to a position preventing release of pressure in said line in response to release of said locking means and to a position releasing pressure in said lines on locking said locking means.

4. A device of the character defined in claim 3 wherein the locking means includes a pair of pins insertable in openings in the fiat plate, said pins contacting said valve to move the valve into pressure releasing position when inserted into said openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,374,590 Levin Apr. 12,1921 2,703,222 Feucht Mar. 1, 1955 2,732,197 Cornett Jan. 24, 1956 3,057,639 Georgi Oct. 9, 1962 

1. IN A WHEELED VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORTING HEAVY EQUIPMENT HAVING AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF WHEELS LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, AN AXLE CARRIED BY THE PAIR OF WHEELS, A SUPPORTING UNIT CARRIED BY THE AXLE, AND A VEHICLE FRAME SUPPORTED BY THE SUPPORTING UNIT, THAT IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES AN UPPER FLAT PLATE ON SAID SUPPORTING UNIT HAVING A TRANSVERSE SECTION CARRYING THE VEHICLE FRAME AND A FORWARD PROJECTING EXTENSION THEREOF PIVOTED TO THE VEHICLE FRAME ADJACENT THE FORWARD END OF SAID EXTENSION; MEANS FOR RELEASABLY LOCKING THE FRAME IN LATERALLY CENTERED POSITION ON THE TRANSVERSE SECTION; MEANS, ATTACHED TO THE FRAME AND SUPPORTING UNIT, FOR MOVING THE FRAME PIVOTALLY ON THE TRANSVERSE SECTION OF THE FLAT PLATE; AND MEANS FOR LIMITING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE FRAME, INCLUDING A STOP CARRIED BY ONE OF SAID FRAME AND FLAT PLATE DISPOSED IN AN OPENING IN THE OTHER OF SAID VEHICLE FRAME AND FLAT PLATE. 